Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Analysis: Consumers To See Increases In Health Law Plan Premiums, Deductibles
Consumers buying health insurance through federal and state exchanges will see their monthly premiums for the popular silver-level plans jump by an average of more than 11%, while also likely facing higher deductibles, a new analysis of exchange data by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows. (O'Donnell, 12/16)
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued an alert on Wednesday for consumers who may have signed up for Cigna or Preferred Medical Plan health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, because the two companies won't provide Marketplace coverage in 2016. The office "strongly urged" consumers "to take action immediately and select another plan, if they have not already done so, by visiting healthcare.gov," the office said in a news release. (Miller, 12/16)
Val Holeman of Missouri City measures her days by the number of phone calls she makes, the time she spends on hold, the Internet searches, the rumors she chases, all to find insurance that will cover the treatment keeping her son alive. (Deam, 12/16)
Maria Farias has been without health insurance since 2011, when her husband lost his job. The Port Richmond resident, who is from Paraguay, relies on a public health center, where she pays $10 to see a doctor, because she doesn't think she can afford nearly $300 a month for insurance. "I'm still thinking about how I can get health insurance," Farias, 45, said Sunday at a festival celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a major event for Latino Catholics. (Brubaker, 12/15)
Meanwhile, Barron's examines how long-term health law fundamentals could impact the health care sector -
Credit Suisse鈥檚 Scott Fidel and Dana Nentin initiated coverage of a number of managed care and health care facility companies Wednesday, noting that the sector is 鈥渂etween a rock and a hard place鈥 as politics and fundamentals cloud the picture for 2016. They write that while 2013-2015 saw optimism from investors, thanks to the Affordable Care Act and an 鈥渦nprecedented鈥 M&A cycle in the industry. However, they write that the 鈥渞apidly deteriorating fundamentals in the public exchanges and lack of additional Medicaid expansions entering 2016鈥 challenge the bull case based on the ACA, and long-term fundamentals will be increasingly challenged. (Rivas, 12/16)
